I got a 18oz bottle of Interdynamics Auto Air conditioning Measure and Charge R-134a Refridgerant & Oil. The bottle came with the color coded gauge to measure to amount before attempting to fill it up, and to monitor the amount while filling. I followed the instructions and turned the car on with the ac on all the way, and filled to the proper amount. I was amazed in how well it worked, the ac is ice cold now, well worth the $20. It is very easy to do, the ac low port is right near the pasenger side strut tower with a blue cap with a "L" on the top. Remove the cap and follow the instructions on the bottle. It recharges the system with cold air, cleans deposits and helps to seal up small leaks according to the bottle. Hope this can help some people out this is the time of year when you want your ac to be cold.

 

Subscribing...so you just have to pour this bottle into the a/c port? No removal of excess liquid, etc?
Maybe this will fix my VERY sub-par a/c performance.

 

I was under the impression your supposed to use some sort of equipment to put this stuff in?

 

yea a hose......

 

The sell just the cans of refrigerant and they sell the complete kits with everything. The kits have the can w/hose, locking coupler for the "L" (low pressure port), and a guage on the hose for accurate readings. The hose connects to the low port and while the car is on with the ac on hi. Then fill and check the ac level until it is full according to the gauge.

 

For all others wishing to charge the AC:
Tips/Advice... I've done alot of research
Only get the R-134a refrigerant, don't get anything with the stop sealing crap, reason being is this damages shop equipment and many shops won't touch your equipment if it's contaminated with the additives.
Use a meat thermometer or something, stick it in a vent and put it on max A/C, your ideal reading IIRC should be around 50 degrees F.
If it isn't, make sure you 'burp' the recharge line before you connect it to the low side port, this will take the atmospheric air out, which you don't want in your ac system (esp if you have the sealing additive cause it reacts with the atmosphere to form seals). Anyhow, always gas-charge it, don't invert it and put liquid in....liquid doesn't compress. shake the can to make the liquid in the can evaporate faster... keep an eye on the thermometer and stop charging when it gets to the 50. hope this helps

 

'burp' the recharge line?

 

Almost every can of refrigerant has the oil and sealer in them, only the really cheap ones didn't. Just make sure you get one with the gauge so you don't overfill the system. It is a much more accurate than a meat thermometer in the vent. As for damaging shop equipment, what equipment?? Most places charge the ac just as I did and just charge you $50 labor on top.

 

why dont you just buy the damn hose. my girlfriend recahrged hers and she has never done anythign else to a car in her life. there were instuctions on the bottle.

 

Wrong (or at least wrong with a half decent thermometer - never tried a meat thermometer in there). Vent temperature is the best way to determine how well your a/c is working without emptying the system and recharging by weight. It makes sense - coldest air = happiest system. The max low side doesn't change enough to see a difference, and therefore you could dangerously overfill. See here for more info.